Fastener attaching apparatus



April 18, 1939. w. FAAS FASTENER ATTACHING APPARATUS Filed June 5, 1936 wml@ m Nm.. n.

n ,o ATToRNgY Patented Apr. 18, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FASTENER ATTACHING APPARATUS Application June 5, 1936, Serial No. 83,680

9 Claims.

My invention relates to fastener attaching apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for applying and securing to folders, binders, backing sheets or other like supports, fasteners of the type extensively used for securing together the superimposed sheets of correspondence or other files. A fastener of this type usually comprises an elongated substantially rectangular base having spaced tongues` or prongs projecting therefrom, which tongues are designed to be passed through suitably spaced perforations in the sheets of a le and bent down over such sheets to thereby secure or bind the same together. Such fasteners are preferably formed of thin sheet metal, such as soft steel, so that the tongues thereof may be readily bent.

The principal object of my invention is to provide improved apparatus for effectively applying or attaching fasteners such as described to binders, folders or other le supports, which are often made of relatively stiff material such as cardboard, Without the necessity of first punching holes in such supports for the receptionv of the fastener tongues.

Another object of my invention is to provide attaching apparatus of the character described which is of simple but rugged construction, has few moving parts and is adapted to apply a fastener to a folder, binder or like support in a single easy operation.

Oft-her objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description, and the novel features thereof will be set forth in the appended claims.

For a clearer understanding of my invention, attention is directed to the accompanying drawing, in the several views of which like parts are designated by the same reference characters, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a View in side elevation, partly broken away, of a preferred form of attaching apparatus in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a View in front elevation, partly broken away and partly in section, of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 having a fastener disposed therein preparatory to its application to a binder or other file support;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a -plan View, partly broken away, of a fastener such as those adapted to be applied by my improved apparatus;

Fig. 6 is a perspective fragmentary View, on a reduced scale, of a binder or folder with a fastener applied thereto; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional View taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

One form of flle fastener adapted to be attached to a folder or other support by my improved apparatus is shown in Fig. 5 and comprises a thin metal base I and spaced flexible tongues or prongs 2, preferably integrally joined to the base at the ends thereof, which are adapted to be passed through similarly spaced perforations in the letters or other sheets to be secured and then bent down over such sheets to securely bind them together. The fastener is preferably provided with a pair of spaced tabs or projections 3 which are struck up from the base I and are preferably pointed so that they are adapted to easily pierce the relatively heavy stiff material from which folders or other le supports are usually formed. In the application of the fastener to a support such as the folder A shown in Fig. 6, by the use of my attaching apparatus, the latter drives the tongues 2 and projections 3 of the fastener through the material of the folder from one side of the latter and clinches: said projections down against the opposite side of the folder to thereby rmly secure the fastener* to the folder. For a purpose which will presently be described, the base I of the fastener is also provided with a pair of similar spaced apertures 4, preferably located between the projections 3.

The preferred form of attaching apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 4, has a heavy base B, preferably a metal casting, which comprises a long rectangular bed-plate or platform 5 and two pairs of supporting legs 6 and 6 formed integrally with said platform at the ends thereof. At its rear end the platform 5 is provided with a pair of 'upstanding spaced portions or lugs 'I constituting supports for two heavy rods 8, the latter having reduced rear end portions 9 which respectively extend through said lugs and on which nuts I0 are turned up tightly. 'Ihe rods 8 extend in parallel relation longitudinally of the platform 5 and spaced somewhat therefrom so as to permit the insertion of folders or other supports to which le fasteners are to be applied.

A vertical plate o-r back-stop Il extending transversely of the platform 5, is provided with spaced openings through which the rods 8 extend whereby such plate is slidably mounted on the rods. The plate Il has a horizontal flange l2 through which a long screw I3 is threaded. The lower end of screw I3 is adapted to engage and coact with the platform 5, when the screw is turned in one direction, to hold the plate II in any desired adjusted position. It will thus be apparent that plate II constitutes an adjustable back-stop for determining the location of the rear edge of a folder or other file suppo-rting member or sheet when inserted between the platform 5 and rods 8. Extending transversely of the platform 5 and slidably mounted in the legs 6 is a rod I4 adapted to be secured in any desired position of adjustment by a set-screw I5 which is threaded through one of the said legs. The rod I4 has an upstanding end portion I6 which, as will be apparent, serves as an adjustable guide or limit stop for one side edge of a file folder or other file support upon insertion thereof between the platform 5 and rods 8. The position of a folder or other sheet in the machine and thereby the location on such folder or sheet where a fastener is to be attached, may be fixed as desred by suitably adjusting the plate II and rod I4.

A frame C in the form of an inverted U is supported in vertical position on rods 8 at their forward ends. This frame comprises a top horizone tal cross piece II and vertical legs IB extending downwardly from the cross piece. The rods 8 have reduced and threaded forward end portions which extend through the legs I8 at points adjacent the lower ends of the latter and on which nuts I9 are turned up tightly, the frame C thus being firmly secured to said rods. As shown in Fig. 2, the legs I8 of frame C are spaced apart a distance just sufficient to accommodate a file fastener of the type shown in Fig. 5 when the legs 2 of the fasten-er are bent to their usual right angular positions with respect to the base I. The inner walls of legs I8 serve as guiding surfaces to help maintain the fastener legs 2 in such right angular positions during the driving operation hereinafter described.

A horizontal fastener driving bar 20 of a length only slightly less than the spacing of the legs I8 of frame C, is disposed between said legs for reciprocatory vertical movement. Secured to the bar 20 medially of its length is an actuating rod 2I which extends upwardly through a suitable opening provided in the cross piece II and in a boss II' on the latter. The rod has an operating knob 22 secured to its upper end. If desired the bar 20 may be biased to the uppermost position thereof shown in Figs. l and 2, as by a coiled expansion spring disposed about rod 2| between the knob 22 and the boss Il" of cross piece I'I; although I prefer to dispense with any such biasing means. For the purpose of assisting in properly positioning and holding a file fastener Within the frame C preparatory to the operation of driving the fastener and in maintaining the fastener properly positioned during the driving operation, the bar 20 may be provided with two downwardly projecting short pins 23 which are spaced apart the same distance as the apertures 4 preferably provided in the base of each fastener to be attached by the apparatus, and which are of such size as to engage such apertures with a moderately tight t.

Two fiat and fairly wide spring strips 24 only slightly less in length than the legs I8 of frame C, are respectively suitably secured at their upper ends, as by means of screws 25, to the upper end portion of said legs against the rear faces of the latter. These spring strips, as shown, project for about one-half their width inwardly beyond the inner sides of legs I9 and terminate at their lower ends just short of the lower ends of said legs. Each of the spring strips 24 has a block 26 spot-welded or otherwise secured to its lower end. The blocks 28 which are preferably of generally rectangular form and of uniform thickness, project forwardly from the strips 24 in parallel relation to each other and to the inner faces of the legs I8, and each of such blocks is spaced from the inner face of the leg I8 adjacent thereto a distance only slightly greater than the thickness of one of the fastener tongues 2. he upper end surfaces 2'I of blocks 26 lie in the path of bar 28 and incline .downwardly away from the strips 24. These inclined surfaces 2'! constitute cams with which bar 26 coacts in the last part of its downward movement to flex the lower portions of strips 24 and move the blocks 26 rearwardly so as to remove the latter at the proper time from the path of a fastener in the operation of applying the same to a folder or other file supporting member.

Rectangular recesses 28 are provided at the two front corners of platform 5 and extend vertically from the upper surface of said platform to the bottoms of the legs 6. Preferably the recesses 28 are of such depth as to readily accommodate the tongues of those filefasteners which are of the size most commonly used, viz., fasteners having tongues which are each a little more than one inch long. The rear wall of each recess 2B, the rear face of that leg i8 of frame C directly above such recess and the front face of the corresponding spring strip 24 are preferably substantially in a common vertical plane, as are preferably also the side wall of each recess 28 and the outer lateral face of the springstrip supported block 26 located just above such recess.

A relatively thin rectangular plate 29 is secured, as by screws 38, to the platform 5 in engagement with the forward top surface portion o-f the latter; said plate preferably extending across the entire width of the platform with its front edge substantially flush with the forward end of the platform and accordingly overlying the recesses 28. The plate 29 is provided with two slots 3| which extend rearwardly in parallel relation from the front edge of the plate and are respectively in vertical alignment with the narrow channels between the blocks 26 and the adjacent legs I8. Two small upstanding projections or anvils 32 having inclined upper surfaces are provided on plate 29 at points respectively spaced a slight distance inwardly from the slots 3l and located directly below the tabs or projections 3 of a file fastener when the latter is properly positioned in the apparatus, as shown in Fig. 2, preparatory to being applied to a binder or le supporting sheet. The plate 29 also has two apertures 33 which are respectively in vertical alignment with the pins 23 of the -driving bar 28, and the platform 5 is provided with a pair of apertures which respectively register with the said apertures 33 in plate 29.

Two blocks 34 are respectively removably secured, as by screws 35, within the lower portions of thecorner recesses 28 in the platform 5. The upper surfaces 35 of these blocks are disposed some distance below plate 29 and respectively curve downwardly and outwardly away from the adjacent inner side walls of the recesses 28.

In the use of the apparatus above described. the binder or other le support or sheet to which a fastener is to be attached is positioned on the platform 5 beneath the rods 8 and frame C, with its rear edge engaging the plate or back-stop II and one side edge thereof engaging the vertical end portion I6 of rod I4. The driving bar 20 is raised to its uppermost position and a file fastener is disposed within frame C in the position shown in Fig. 2, wherein the base I of the fastener bears against the driving bar with the pins 23 of the latter engaging the apertures 4 of said base and the tongues 2 extend downwardly from base I in engagement with or in close proximity to the respective adjacent legs I8 of the frame and the spring strips 24. The driving bar 29 is then moved quickly and forcibly to its lowermost position by application of pressure to the knob 2'2 of rod 2I. The bar 20 in its downward movement pushes the fastener down so as to force the tongues 2 and tabs or projections 3 thereof through the binder or file support. After piercing the binder or support the tongues 2 pass through the slots 3| of plate 29 and are respectively brought into engagement with the curved surfaces 36 of blocks 3d whereby they are bent outwardly into curved form, and the projections 3 are respectively forcibly engaged with the anvils so as to be bent over into clinching engagement with said binder or support. The fastener will then be of the form shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 2. The apertures 33 in plate 29 and platform 5 are adapted for the reception of pins 23 on bar 20, and accordingly the latter when moved down is brought to a position closely adjacent said plate so that the fastener will be effectively and very firmly attached to the file binder or support. During the first part of the downward movement of the bar 20 and the fastener in frame C, viz., before and until the flexible fastener tongues 2 have pierced the file binder or support, the said tongues respectively engage in the narrow guideways provided between the blocks 26 and the adjacent legs I8 and are thereby held vertical and prevented from becoming bent. After the tongues 2 have been forced through the binder or le support and in the continued downward movement of the fastener and Athe bar 20, the latter engages the inclined surfaces 21 of blocks 26 to force these blocks, against the action of spring strips 24, rearwardly out of its path and that of the fastener so that the fastener base I may be brought closely against the binder or file support. Fig. l shows in dot dash lines one of the spring strips 20. and the block 26 carried thereby in the positions to which the same have been displaced rearwardly by the bar 20 when the latter in its said downward movement, reaches the lower of the two illustrated positions thereof, that is just after it has passed olf the inclined cam surface 21 of said block. During such continued downward movement of the fastener the tongues 2' thereof engage the slots 3l in plate 29 and those portions of the tongues between the base I and plate 29 are held straight and prevented from being bent, by the walls of said slots.

With my improved apparatus fasteners lof the type herein disclosed may be very rapidly applied and securely attached to binders and other file supports. When the blocks 34 are employed in such apparatus the tongues of fasteners in being attached to binders or the like, are bent into curved form as described above and as shown in Fig. 2. This not only renders it possible to compactly stack the binders or supports with the fasteners applied thereto, but also increases the range of use of the apparatus as the latter is then adapted to apply or attach fasteners having either short of relatively long tongues with equal facility and effectiveness. Where the apparatus is to be used in applying a considerable quantity of fasteners having tongues of the length which is most common,.. i. e., a little over one inch, the blocks 34 may if desired, be removed as the base B is preferably of sufficient depth to readily accommodate tongues of such length.

It is to be understood that the specic preferred form of apparatus shown and described herein is subject to many changes vand modifications without departure from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for attaching tongued fasteners to binders or other supports, comprising a base, a frame in fixed relation to the base, a fastener supporting and driving member mounted on said frame for movement towards and away from the base, and means movably supported by said frame adapted to cooperate with the tongues of a fastener to maintain the same in spaced parallel relation, said means being adapted to be moved from cooperative relation with said tongues by the supporting and driving member in the movement of the latter towards the'base.

2. Apparatus for attaching tongued fasteners to binders or other supports, comprising a base, a frame in fixed relation to the base and having spaced parallel elements, a fastener supporting and driving member mountedv on the frame for movement between said elements towards and away from the base, and guide members movably supported on the frame and biased to positions in which they are adapted respectively to cooperate with said elements to maintain the tongues of a fastener in spaced parallel relation, said guide members being adapted to be moved from said positions by said supporting and driving member in the movement thereof towards the base.

3. Apparatus for attaching tongued fasteners to binders or other supports, comprising a base, a frame having spaced parallel elements, a fastener driving member mounted on the frame for movement between said elements towards and away from the base, springs secured to said frame, and guide members supported by said springs and biased thereby to positions in which they are adapted respectively to cooperate with said elements to maintain the tongues of a fastener in spaced parallel relation, said guide members being adapted to be moved from said position against the action of said springs by said driving member in the movement thereof towards the base.

4. Apparatus for attaching tongued fasteners to binders or other supports, comprising a base, a frame having spaced parallel elements, a fastener supporting and driving member mounted on the frame for movement between said elements towards and away from the base, and guide members movably supported on the frame and biased to positions in which they are adapted respectively to maintain the tongues of a fastener in spaced parallel relation, said guide members having cam surfaces normally lyingr in the path of said supporting and driving member so as to be engaged by the latter in the movement thereof towards the base and thereby effect movement o-f the guide members from said positions.

5. Apparatus for attaching tongued fasteners to binders or other le supports, comprising a base having a platform, spaced rods xedly secured at one end to the base and extending over and spaced above said platform, a framecomprising vertically extending spaced elements secured at their lower ends to the other ends of said rods respectively, a fastener driving mem` ber mounted on the frame for movement towards and away from said platform, and means carried by said frame adapted to cooperate with the tongues of a fastener to maintain the same in proper spaced relation to each other, said means being adapted to be moved from cooperative relation with said tongues as the driving member is moved towards said platform.

6. Apparatus for attaching tongued fasteners to binders or other i'lle supports, comprising a base having a platform, a pair of spaced rods fixedly secured at one end only to the base and extending over and in spaced relation to said platform, a frame comprising a pair of verti` cal spaced parallel elements secured at their lower ends to the other ends of said rods respectively, a fastener driving member mounted on the frame for vertical movement between said elements towards and away from said platform, and guide members movably supported on the frame and biased to positions in which they are adapted respectively to cooperate with said elements to maintain the tongues of a fastener in spaced parallel relation, said guide members being adapted to be moved from said positions in the movement of the driving member towards said platform.

7. In apparatus of the class described, an apertured base on which a binder or the like is vadapted to be supported over the apertures base, the base being vertically recessed beneath the apertures therein, and means disposed in the recessed portion of the base engageable by said tongues when the latter are forced by said member through the apertures of the base and adapted thereupon to effect bending of the tongues outwardly away from each other.

8. In apparatus of the class described, an apertured base on which a binder or the like is adapted to be supported over the apertures therein, a fastener driving member supported for movement towards the base so as to force the tongues of a file fastener through a binder or the like so supported and into the apertures of the base, the base being provided with vertical recesses beneath the apertures therein, and blocks removably secured in said recesses and provided with upper surfaces curved downwardly and outwardly away from each other and adapted to be engaged by said tongues upon. the latter being forced by said member through the apertures of the base.

9. Apparatus for attaching tongued fasteners to binders or other supports, comprising a base, a frame which is fixed relative to the base and which has spaced parallel elements, a fastener driving member mounted on the frame for movement between said elements towards and away from the base, and guide members movably supported on the frame and biased to positions in which they are adapted respectively to maintain the tongues of a fastener in spaced` parallel relation, said guide members having cam surfaces normally lying in the path of said driving member so as to be engaged by the latter in the movement thereof towards the base and thereby effect movement of the guide members from said positions.

WALTER FAAS. 

